Dry-closet system.



PATENTBD MAY 5, 1903.

J. BANNER. DRY CLOSET SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 15, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 11 Witnesses THE Nonms PETERS co. PHOTO-LIYHO,WASD1INGTON. u. c

.PATENTED MAY 5 1-903 J. BANNER.

DRY CLOSET SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED 00116, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET -2.

10 MODEL.

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UNrrnn TATES Patented May 5, 1903.

ATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH DANNER, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO JAMES J. CROGHAN AND ALFRED TURNER, OF SCRANTON,

PENNSYLVANIA.

DRY-CLOSET SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7Q7,303,dated May 5, 1903. Application filed October 15,1902- Serial No. 127,400. (No model.)

Z0 to whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BANNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scranton, in the county of Lacka'wanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Dry-Closet Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises improvements in dry-closet systems, the details of which will be pointed out in the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the closet system, the housing being shown in section and the vertical dividing-partition between the two sides of the housing being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the closets on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating a modification of the partition in the closet-vault, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view through one of the perforated bricks which form the vault-partition shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a house or building upon the floor of which is arranged an elongated vault or casing B. The vault B comprises the side walls 1 and 2 and a top or seat portion 3, the latter being provided with two longitudinal series of seatopenings 4 and 5 and hinged covers 6, adapted to close said openings. A vertical partition 7 extends longitudinally of the building, between the rows of openings 4 and 5,dividing the building into two rooms. Each room is divided into closets by transverse partitions 8, arranged between the adjacent openings. These partitions, as shown, do not extend upwardly as far as the ceiling, so that there is a free circulation of air over the partitions.

A concave partition 9 extends longitudinally through the vault, dividing the latter into upper and lower compartmentslO and 11, respectively. Openings 12 and 13 are provided 7 in the ends of the upper compartment, and

similar openings 1% and 15 are formed in the ends of the lower compartment. Within the building, at one end of the vault, is arranged a furnace-chamber 16, having therein grate- 1 bars 17 between the openings 12 and 14. A covering 18' extends over the chamber, and a wide flat'inlet stack or pipe 19 extends upwardly from the lower part of the furnacechamber and opens into the building above the furnace. This inlet pipe or stack, as shown in Fig. 1, extends through the partition' 7, so that the air from both rooms may enter the pipe. At the opposite end of the vault,-and preferably located outside of the building, is arranged a furnace 20, having an inclosure 21, a stack 22; and grate-bars 23 between the openings 13 and 15 at the end of the vault.

The concave partition 9 (shown in Figs. 2 and 3) is composed of porous bricks 24, supported between the walls of the vault upon suitable iron supports 25. These bricks,-except those beneath the openings 4 and 5," are formed withopenings 26 extending through them,saidopenings converging from thelower to the upper sides of the bricks, and the walls of the openings project upwardly a short distance above the surface of the concave partition. The floor of the lower compartment of thevault is covered with a layer of sand 27 or other removable absorbent material, and doors 29ar'e arranged in the sides of the lower compartmentof the vault, through which this absorbent material' maybe inserted and removed and through which air may be admitted to said. lower compartment when desired. Instead of constructing the concave partition with bricks'aid partition may be made of iron, with conical tubes 30 projecting therethrough, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The solid matter falling uponthe concave partition remains in the upper chamber of the vault, whileconsiderable of the water passes through the porous partition and either drops into the sand or other absorbent material at the bottom or is evaporated from the lower surface of the partition. A fire is kept continually burning in the draft-furnace20, and the foul air from the interior of the house is thereby continually carried down the inlet-pipe 19,thence through the furnace-chamber 16 and theupper and lower compartments of the vault, carrying off the water or moisture in said com partments, as well as the gases and odors,

' the furnace 20 to the stack 22.

which latter are consumed in passing through A draft is also created through the openings 26. The air passing through these openings throughout the length of the vault flows close to the liquid or semiliquid mass in the upper compartment and hastens the evaporation. In case at any time the porous partition becomes clogged by an accumulation of solid matter the liquid may flow through the openings 26 into the lower compartment, where it will be absorbed by the sand and then evaporated by the air-current flowing through said chamber. The walls of the openings 26 project far enough above the top of the partition to prevent water or other matter from passing into them in the ordinary operation of the system. When a sufiicient quantity of material has accumulated in the upper compartment, a fire is started in the furnace-chamber 16, and the heat and flames from this furnace, passing through the upper compartment, dry and burn the sediment therein. The draft through the lower compartment of the vault is sufficient to evaporate the moisture passing through the bricks under ordinary circumstances; but when the sand or absorbent material in the bottom of the compartment becomes foul it may be removed through the clean-out doors 29. The doors may be opened to regulate the draft through this compartment, more or less air from the bottom of the room being thus admitted to the vault and stack.

The entire structure is made of material that will not burn, such as iron and brick.

In Fig. 4, wherein the partition in the vault is non-porous, of course no liquid will pass into the lower compartment except when an accumulation occurs in the upper compartment and overflow takes place through the conical tubes. The air from the lower compartment, however, passes through these tubes, as in Figs. 2 and 3, bringing the air close to the wet material throughout the length of the upper compartment.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In adry-closet system,a housing, an elongated vault or casing within the housing, said casing having openings at both ends and having a longitudinal series of openingsin its top or seat portion, a partition extendinglongitudiually through the casing beneath said seat-openings and dividing the easing into upper and lower compartments, said partition having a plurality of openings extending therethrough, the walls of said openings extending above the surface of the partition, a furnace-chamber at one end of the casing, an air passage-way leading from the interior of the housing to said furnacechamber, and a furnace-chamber at the opposite end of the casing having a stack leading to the atmosphere.

2. In a dry-closet system, a housing, an elongated vault or casing within the housing having openings at both ends and having a longitudinal series of openings in its top or seatportion, a concave partition of porous material extending longitudinally through the casing beneath said seat-openings and dividing the easing into upper and lower compartments, said partition having a plurality of openings thcrethrough and the walls of said openings extending above the surface of the partition, a furnace-chamber at one end of the casing, an air passage-way leading from the interior of the housing to said furnacechamber, and a furnace-chamber at the opposite end of the casing having astack leading to the atmosphere.

3. In adry-closet system, a housing, an elongated casing or vault within the housing, said vault having a longitudinal series of openings in its top or seat portion, a partition extending longitudinally through the casing beneath said seat-openings and dividing the easlng into upper and lower compartments, afurmace-chamber withinthe housing at one end of the vault, an air-inlet pipe leading from the interior of the building to said chamber,

a furnace-chamber at the opposite end of the" vault, and a stack leading from said latter chamber to the atmosphere, and communicating passage-ways from the upper and lower compartments of the vault to each of said furmace-chambers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH DANNER.

Witnesses:

JAMES J. CROGHAN, ALFRED TURNER. 

